Update on the use of cefotaxime for pediatric meningitis in Portugal

Abstract

We treated 256 children who had identified bacterial meningitis with cefotaxime. Causative organisms were: Neisseria meningitidis in 108 cases, Streptococcus pneumoniae in 61, Haemophilus influenzae in 60, enteric Gram-negative bacilli in 21, and Staphylococcus spp. in six. Daily doses of cefotaxime were 150-200 mg/kg. A total of 240 patients (93.7%) were cured. In the cured patients, sterilization of cerebrospinal fluid was obtained in the first 72 h of treatment in 214 (80.0%). Cefotaxime is an effective and safe drug for the treatment of childhood bacterial meningitis.